<p>The aim of this study is to describe how unemployment is experienced by unemployed persons and how this situation affects their health and wellbeing. A qualitative semi structured interview method has been applied. The study includes seven persons in the age between </p><p>29- 58. Four of them were women and three were men. The following four themes are presented in the study: psychological health and wellbeing and how unemployment is experienced, social factors, economic factors and, how they value a job. The result of the study show that unemployment influences psychological health and wellbeing, to a high extent. All of the interviewed subjects think that social support is important and that it has a positive effect during unemployment. All of them mean that their economical situation becomes worse as a reason of unemployment, and this has a negative influence on their psychological health and wellbeing, and especially of life quality. The interview persons value work highly and mean that it is important to earn money and support oneself. It also turned out that unemployment changes self-image, self-perception, self-esteem and self-confidence. Earlier studies also show that unemployment affects psychological health and wellbeing. The discussion is based on a theoretical interpretation on the result, where the result in this study is compared to earlier studies and theories. The conclusion of this study is that unemployment has a negative affect on the psychological health and wellbeing. </p><p>Keywords: economy, psychological health, social support/network, unemployment, work</p>

The aim of this study is to describe how unemployment is experienced by unemployed persons and how this situation affects their health and wellbeing. A qualitative semi structured interview method has been applied. The study includes seven persons in the age between 29- 58. Four of them were women and three were men. The following four themes are presented in the study: psychological health and wellbeing and how unemployment is experienced, social factors, economic factors and, how they value a job. The result of the study show that unemployment influences psychological health and wellbeing, to a high extent. All of the interviewed subjects think that social support is important and that it has a positive effect during unemployment. All of them mean that their economical situation becomes worse as a reason of unemployment, and this has a negative influence on their psychological health and wellbeing, and especially of life quality. The interview persons value work highly and mean that it is important to earn money and support oneself. It also turned out that unemployment changes self-image, self-perception, self-esteem and self-confidence. Earlier studies also show that unemployment affects psychological health and wellbeing. The discussion is based on a theoretical interpretation on the result, where the result in this study is compared to earlier studies and theories. The conclusion of this study is that unemployment has a negative affect on the psychological health and wellbeing. Keywords: economy, psychological health, social support/network, unemployment, work